“So?” Emelie was baffled by his response.
“Ye’re with child, Em.” Emotion filled Dominic’s voice, making his speech slip back into his burr. Emelie shivered, the rolling sounds nearly as arousing as the feel of his cock against her. “I dinna want to hurt either of ye. I’m so much bigger that I fear harming ye.”
“If you think you’d be too heavy…” It was Emelie’s turn to blush. She was embarrassed to admit what she knew. But there was no point in pretending either of them were virgins. “You don’t have to be on top of me.”
“I ken. But, Em, all of me is large.” At Emelie’s speculative glance at his rod, Dominic thought he’d spill without touching her. “I dinna want to injure ye if I force ma way into ye. Ye’re so tiny.”
Emelie pulled her lips in as she attempted—and failed—to hide her smile. She covered her mouth to stifle her giggle. She ceased when she saw how her laughter hurt Dominic. “I don’t mean to laugh at your concern. But do you fear you’ll poke the bairn?”
Dominic’s ears were surely afire. He wished he could stick his head in the river and cool off. “I dinna think I can. I dinna think that is how a woman’s body is made, but I can also see how narrow yer hips are.”
“Didn’t you say that if my body was ready, there would be no discomfort, only pleasure?”
“Aye. But I’ve never…” Dominic groaned. He didn’t want to talk to his bride about his past sexual congress with other women.
“Never coupled with an expectant woman?” Emelie supplied.
“Aye.”
“Are you really that fearful?”
“I never want to do aught that might hurt ye, Em. I only want to protect ye, and that may mean from me.”
“I don’t need protecting from you, Dom.”
“I dinna trust maself nae to lose what little control I have around ye. Em, ye drive me to distraction. I canna think of much else but how badly I want to be with ye.”
“You seem fine when we go walking. You don’t seem distracted at all.”
“Then I’m even better at hiding how I feel than I thought.”
“What do we do?” Emelie asked, her voice hushed since she wasn’t certain she would like his answer.
“I tried to see our healer, Honoria, but she’s away from the village. A woman recently gave birth on one of our more remote farms. She nearly died birthing her son, so Nora went to care for her.”
“Oh, Dom. That couldn’t have made you feel any better aboot this.”
“It didna. I wanted to ask her advice aboot whether it’s safe.”
“It must be. I know Laurel and Brodie certainly aren’t abstaining, and she’s further along than I am.”
“But she’s also tall and sturdy,” Dominic countered.
“I’m not exactly going to blow away in the wind. You make me sound like a child. I’m short, but I’m an adult. You will not break me, and I have a mind of my own. I don’t need you making decisions for me.”
“But—”
“No. You’re trying to rescue me again, fix me. You decided how things were going to be without considering what I want. I want my husband to touch me. I want to not feel rejected every time you kiss me, then push me away. Mayhap you won’t couple with me, but at least you’ve admitted that you want to.”
Emelie clenched her jaw as she fought not to cry or scream. Dominic watched her, uncertain what to say or do next.
“Do you have any idea how horrible I’ve felt thinking I was a slut for wanting your attention? How guilty I’ve felt for not being a virgin? I may not know much, but I’m ashamed of what I do know. I shouldn’t have any clue of how enjoyable a mon’s touch can be, but I do. I was too embarrassed to say aught before because I didn’t want to remind you of what I do know. But I’m angry at you.”
Dominic swept Emelie into his arms, but she gritted her teeth when he carried her to a chair near the fireplace rather than to the bed. He settled into the seat and nestled her against his chest. She wasn’t ready to be soothed by being in his embrace. She wanted things resolved.
“Em, ye seemed so broken and vulnerable when I met ye. I’d never felt such sympathy for someone in ma life. I did want to rescue ye and to fix everything. Ye looked as through the world had chewed ye up and spat ye out. I wanted to protect ye from that. I admit once I kenned yer situation, a small part of me did think offering ye a chance for marriage would redeem me, at least in ma own eyes. But more than aught, I wanted ye with me. I dinna ken why I felt that way. I just did. I just do,” Dominic shrugged. “I dinna ken much aboot women and bairns. I dinna ken what’s safe for a husband to do, so I thought it better nae to do aught. It’s nae from lack of want. Ye were right that I should have talked to ye. I was too embarrassed by how strong ma desire is for ye. I dinna want ye to think that’s all that matters to me. I dinna want ye to fear me or think I would force ye.”
“Why would I ever think that? You would never, ever force me. You are not that type of mon. And I have to say, I resent you thinking I would ever think that aboot you.”
